Starting device, compression relief with automatic lock release



J.' F. WRIGHT STARTING DEVICE COMPRESSION RELIEF June 22 1948.

WITH AUTOMATIC LOCK RELEASE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 20-, 1945 O T m V m A'ITU RN EYS June 22,. 1948. WRIGHT 2,443,999

STARTING DEVICE COMPRESSION RELIEF WITH AUTOMATIC LOCK RELEASE Filed NOV. 20, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Patented June 22 1948 STARTING; nEvrcE, COMPRESSION RELIEF WITHAUTOMATIC LOCK RELEASE 9 James F. Wright, lipper Montclair, N. J. Application November 20, 1945, Serial No. 629,742

The invention relates" pression relief with automatic lock release or the like.

The primary object of the invention is the proto a lock release device, and more especially to a starting device, com- 2 Claims. (01. 123-182) vision of a device of this character, wherein an exhaust valve of the engine is held open by a cam, which is operated, either mechanically or hydraulically from a pilot-pit or otherwise, so that any oil or excess gasoline can be forced out of the combustionv chamber, into the exhaust system, thus a pilot can release the exhaust valve in the lower or inverted cylinder or cylinders, for turning the engine over with the starter and exhaust liquid, then turn on ignition, to effect a-take-off of the craft, without damage to the engine.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character, wherein the spinning of the propeller by hand for the starting of the engine is eliminated, and damage to the latter is avoided through the presence of liquid within the cylinders of such lengine resultant in a liquid lock therein, the device being of novel construction and is unique in its purpose.

A further object of the invention is the pro vision of a device of this character, which is simple in construction, thoroughly reliable and vention consists in the features of construction,

combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which show the preferred embodiment of the invention, and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of an aircraft radial cylinder engine, showing the device constructed in accordance with the invention applied and in one position.

Figure 2 is a top plan View, partly broken away.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1, partly broken away, and showing the device in a releasing position.

Figure 4 is a schematic outline of an aircraft with the device partly in elevation and partly in section in working position therein.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views in the drawings.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the aircraft A which may be of any standard construction, has equipped therewith the usual power engine, 'oneof its cylinders beingdenotedat l0, theexhaustvalve therefor at Ii, and the valve rocker at i2, respectively,, these adjuncts being of the ordinary well-known construction and in arrangement thereof, The liquid lock, release device constitutingthepresent invention will be hereinafter fullydescribed.

The liquid lock" release device in accordance with the invention comprises, a release lever l3 mounted or straddling the exhaust valve rocker box 54, it being supp-orjtedjto extend throughthe rockerbox'cover' l5 and byja pivot [6, has connection with, crank arm I! fixed, to the stub shaft [8 of a vertically swinging cam l9; whichis adapted for pressingupon the roller contact '20 of the valve rocker 82 when operating inone direction, for opening the valve H, and thus release the liquid lock within the cylinder l0. The lever or plunger i3 is operated through pivotal connection 2| with a bell-crank 22, swingingly supported at 23 without the rocker box I4, as best seen in Figure 201 the drawings.

The bell-crank 22 is pivoted at 24 to a throw pitman 25 having break-joint connection 26 with the stem of a piston 21 within a hydraulic cylinder 28, its fluid line 29 being in communication with a master hydraulic cylinder 3! which has the force piston 3| thereof operated by a footpedal 32 conveniently located within the craft A in its cock-pit adjacent to the pilot seat 33 within the same.

Also connected to the lever or plunger I3 is a manually operated mechanical control, which comprises a pull cable 34, trained over guide pulleys 35 and connected to a throw stick 36, within the cock-pit, as clearly shown in Figure 4 of the drawings. The bell-crank 22 is reversely set by a coiled spring 31 connected as shown in Figure 2 of the drawings. In event that the hydraulic operation of the device fails, then the pull cable 34 can be manually operated for the lock release within the engine. Both the hydraulic operation and cable operation are controlled from v the cock-pit of the craft, the mechanical operahaust of any oil that may be trapped in the comf bustion chamber of a cylinder of the engine through the exhaust system by holding the exhaust valve free from its seat, by remote control from the cock-pit of an aircraft.

valve rocker device to hold the same in a position to open said exhaust valve, a leverrattagched to said stub shaft, a bell-crank lever, means pivotally mounting the same on theengineior oscil: lation about an axis parallel to said stub axis,

a link pivotally connected to said 'lever'and'to one end of said bell-crank lever, spring means cone nected to the engine and to said one end of said bell-crank leverfor returning saidbell-crank and levertoa'n initialpos'ition to cause said cam member to ride ofi the valve rocker device, and a cylinder, a piston slidable therein 'and having a piston rod; a connecting rodpivote'd to the other end of saidbell-c'ranklever and to said piston rod, 'a' foot-,operatedhydraulic mechanism connected to said cylinder for actuating the piston therein, a flexible member connected to said one end'of said bell-crank lever for actuating the same independently of said hydraulic mechanism.

2. In an internal combustion engine of the compression type having an exhaust valve springpressed to a closing position, a valve rocker device for opening the valve and a push rod means fo'r'operatlng said valve rocker device; a mechanism for holding the exhaust valve open independently of said push rod means comprising in combination a stub shaft pivoted on the engine, a cam member secured to said stub shaft and adapted to engage the valve rocker device to hold the same in a position to open said exhaust valve, a lever attached to said stub shaft, a bell-crank lever pivoted on the engine, a link pivotally connected to said lever and to one end of said bellcrank lever, means associated with said bell-crank lever and the engine for opposing movement of said bell-crank in a direction to cause said cam member. to actuate the valve rocker, a cylinder, a

piston slidable therein having a piston rod, a

connecting rod pivoted to the other end of said bell-crankievcr and to said piston rod, and a hydraulic mechanism connected to said cylinder for actuating the piston therein.

JAMES F. WRIGHT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 715,208 Lizotte Dec..2, 1902 1,050,087 Steinbecker Jan. 7, 1913 1,134,967 Brow'nlee Apr, 6, 1915 1,137,314 Harley Apr. 25, 1915 1,283,780 Hvid Nov. 5, 1918 1,570,914 Muller Jan. 26, 1926 1,604,704 Madden Oct. 26, 1926 1,805,578 Gardner et a1 May 19, 1931 2,314,150 LoWeke Mar. 16, 1943 

